WBAM Deep South Jamboree

Along about the mid-1950s, 1954 or so, Montgomery, Alabama audiences
were listening to the WBAM Deep South Jamboree that was being hosted
by Shorty Sullivan. Shorty happened to be the younger brother of one
of the Lonzo and Oscar boys. WBAM was a 50,000 watt station back then.
They wrote that Shorty and his Green Valley Boys were playing to SRO
crowds down at the Fort Dixie Graves Armory in Montgomery. You do know
that Montgomery was the home of Hank Williams, right?

Another star of the show was Rebe Gosdin and his Sunny Valley Gang. They
also featured a gal singer by the name of Judy Jenkins, who had been
with the Roy Acuff show. Rebe had recorded on both the MGM and Tennessee
record labels back then. He had also written a few songs such as "My
Empty Arms". Rebe and his gang were quite busy with WBAM - they had
appearances twice a day.

Another star at the time on their show was Jack Turner, who had just
signed with RCA Victor records back then and was said to be a protege
of Hank Williams' mom.

They characterized Ray Howard as being someone who could sing unusually
smooth hillbilly music. Betty Howard was a featured vocalist, too and was
Ray's wife. And they said the day was never complete unless Fred Wamble
did one of his tunes in his own unique style with hillbilly songs.

Some of the acts that were a part of the WBAM Deep South Jamboree
included: